As we look toward January when our states newly elected governor and all-new Cabinet members take office, we have high hopes that these leaders will help move Florida out of the current economic conditions.
We need these leaders to work to make Florida job-creation friendly in order to reduce the double-digit unemployment rate our state is experiencing. Current college graduates are entering a constrained work force with limited opportunities for meaningful employment. We encourage Gov.-elect Rick Scott to work closely with our Legislature to develop policies that foster the creation of jobs for graduates and to champion the strengthening of Floridas higher education community.
Higher education plays a vital role in developing a strong and vibrant work force. It is a major contributor to sustained economic development in our state.
The 28 private, not-for-profit ICUF institutions employ more than 27,000 Floridians in high-wage, green jobs while fostering a robust economic climate in our local communities. It is hard to separate our institutions from the communities they serve. Additionally, the research programs at all of Floridas universities enable our state to be at the forefront of new and innovative technologies.
The continued investment in these programs will not only enrich students, but also help attract new industries to our state, leading to a healthy, expanding business climate. Scott has expressed the need for our universities to be connected to the economic development process, better linking our institutions to long-term job creation in Florida. We need a strong emphasis from our political leadership that matches the call from our state business leaders for a greater engagement by higher education in Florida in our economic development efforts.
Nearly 50 percent of the recipients of the Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) are the first in their families to attend a higher educational institution. This program helps create the access to achievement Florida needs for all students. Scott has shown strong support for expanding access to higher educational opportunities and we are pleased he has made a commitment to strengthening this program.
ICUF schools also produce more than 40 percent of masters and doctoral degrees and over 50 percent of first professional degrees each year in Florida. We need to enhance policies to retain these graduates as vital elements of our states economy.
We look forward to Scott taking Floridas higher education opportunities to a new level, helping us prepare Floridas students to be valuable contributors in the global marketplace and working to restore job growth in the Sunshine State.
Florida has tremendous natural assets that should serve as key ingredients in efforts to attract. However, our higher education community should play an integral role in every effort to attract new companies to Florida. Other states have used higher education as a primary focus in economic development. We have the same tools. We can do better!
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Dr. Ed Moore is president and CEO of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
